George Morrison Carstairs was a British psychiatrist, anthropologist, and academic.
27 Facts About Morris Carstairs
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Morris Carstairs was Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1961 to 1973, President of the World Mental Health Organization from 1968 to 1972, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1973 to 1978.
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Morris Carstairs was the son of George Carstairs, a Church of Scotland missionary, and his wife Elizabeth Huntley Young.
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Morris Carstairs spent his childhood in India and became fluent in both English and Hindi.
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Morris Carstairs was educated at George Watson's College, then an all-boys private school in Edinburgh.
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Morris Carstairs was an accomplished long-distance runner in his youth.
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Morris Carstairs was the Scottish 3 miles champion in 1937,1938 and 1939.
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Morris Carstairs represented Scotland at the 1937 International University Games, winning a silver medal in the 5000 metres in a time of 15:24.2.
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Morris Carstairs represented Scotland at the 1939 International University Games, winning a gold medal in the 5000 metres in a time of 15:20.2.
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Morris Carstairs represented Great Britain at the 1938 European Athletics Championships, coming sixth in the Men's 5000 metres with a time of 14:51.3.
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Morris Carstairs went to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
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Morris Carstairs was then called up for active service as a medical officer with the Royal Air Force; and was commissioned into the Medical Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 15 May 1942 as a flying officer.
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Morris Carstairs was promoted to flight lieutenant on 15 May 1943.
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Morris Carstairs was trained in the "culture and personality" approach to psychological anthropology in New York, by Margaret Mead.
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In 1949, Carstairs joined the India Field Project organised by Gitel P Steed for Columbia University.
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Morris Carstairs wrote on Hinduism, his views being influenced by Melanie Klein and second-generation Freudianism, an approach adopted by Philip Spratt.
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Morris Carstairs's book The Twice-Born on the topic was published by the Hogarth Press and had a preface by Margaret Mead.
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In 1953, Morris Carstairs began his career in psychiatry when he was appointed a senior registrar at the Maudsley Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in London, England.
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Morris Carstairs discovered that improved motivation in patients helped their rehabilitation.
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Morris Carstairs received his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1959.
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Morris Carstairs stood down as director in 1971, and was followed by Norman Kreitman.
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In 1961, Morris Carstairs was appointed Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
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Morris Carstairs gave the 1962 Reith Lectures, a series broadcast on BBC Radio, under the title This Island Now.
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Morris Carstairs was only the second person to head the university as it had only been established in 1963.
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Morris Carstairs had plans to expand the university both physically and in the number of subjects it taught, but because of the hostile atmosphere he faced these were not achieved during his vice-chancellorship.
26.
Morris Carstairs withdrew from professional life, and was cared for by his first wife.
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Morris Carstairs died at his Edinburgh home on 17 April 1991.